Emulate Rob Cross In The Rileys Qualifiers!

THE Rileys Amateur Qualifiers for the Coral UK Open helped to change the life of Rob Cross - and ambitious players wishing to emulate the new World Champion can still enter this year's knockouts!

Cross qualified from the Rileys Norwich club to be one of 32 amateurs competing alongside the sport's biggest names in the 2016 UK Open Finals at the Butlins Minehead Resort.

He won through to the fourth round and took on the reigning champion Michael van Gerwen - and was encouraged enough to subsequently join the PDC circuit.

The Hastings thrower's incredible rise since was crowned when he became World Champion on Monday night at Alexandra Palace.

Darts players inspired by Cross' remarkable success take try their hand in the 2018 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers, which begin on January 20 and run through to February 18.

The knockouts will be held in Rileys Sports Bars across the country, with Chester, Chorlton, Coventry, Greenock, Liverpool, London Victoria, Norwich, Nottingham, South Benfleet, Twickenham and Wolverhampton all staging two events.

Entry costs £7 per player per event, with the entry fee including a free drink. Entry can be made via www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments, or in person at the Rileys Sports Bars, with entries for each event closing at 5pm on the day before that specific knockout.

Players are permitted to enter more than one tournament. Players must be aged 16 or above to enter, and entry is not open to players who compete in the 2018 PDC Qualifying Schools. Full tourmament rules can be seen at www.rileys.co.uk/tournaments.